The German Government announced today it had decided not to extend the statute of limitations for the prosecution of major war criminals.
According to Herr von Hase, the Secretary of State for Information, “the Government, after lengthy discussions, has found that, according to certain articles in the Federal Constitution and according to other grounds, a change in the statute of limitation is precluded.” Consequently, he said, no more prosecutions against major war criminals can be started after May 8, 1965, in the British and French Zones and after next July 1, in the United States zone.
The official spokesman announced at the same time that West Germany has addressed a worldwide appeal to all persons having knowledge about unprosecuted war criminals to provide such information to the German authorities prior to the expiration of the statute. Come political circles here, notably leaders of the Social Democratic Party, but including also some officials of the Federal Ministry of Justice, said they will still try to find means for amending the statute of limitations.
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